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Finding Password ?

R

Robert4

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 20, 2012
659
30
Hi,

Will blame my ignorance on old age now.
Great excuse for most anything, I've found.

Really embarrassed to ask, as I'm sure I wrote it down somewhere, but can't find it.

Have an iPhone 6s, works fine.
I use Verizon for wiFi from a Router in house.
Then, i guess, it somehow goes to Comcast ?

On my phone under settings, the Network name appears, then the Configure IP, IP Address, Router, etc show, but no password does.

Anyway, my son came over and he can't connect to our wiFi with his iPhone.
It says he needs the Password.

The Password is what i cannot find.
Any way of finding it from my phone which does connect ?

Or, how do i get it again to give to him, so he can connect with his iPhone also, when visiting us ?

Much thanks, appreciate the help,
Bob
 
The wifi network would be supplied by a wifi router.
Who supplied your router - or did you purchase your own?

The password protects the wifi network.
If your router came from Verizon, for example, there would be a default password.
If you don't remember ever changing that default password, then maybe it is still the original password (which might even be on a label on the router. Some companies do that.

Anyway, the wifi (network) password is NOT stored on your iPhone. It WILL be stored on the router, which would be accessed through a web page, or maybe a configuration app that is supplied by the router manufacturer.
You might also check the website for your internet supplier, whoever that is. There should be common questions on their support web page.

But, if none of this helps you - who do you pay for your internet connection?
Call their support line. They can help you retrieve (or change) your network password.
 
Hi,

Great, clear explanation.
Thanks so much for taking the time to write it out.

Can I please also ask you this, as I'm very confused about it.
Again, that old-age bit, and the fact that I hooked up all of this about 30+ years ago. Just don't remember.

I use Comcast for our Internet.
There is a single line coming in from a street overhead pole wire, into the house, which I believe is Comcast's.

It comes up to my Study, and into a Motorola box (called a Modem ?)
that they provided. Lots of flashing lights on the front.

There is then a single line (Ethernet ?) going to a Cisco box (Router ?)
that I know I purchased.

Several Ethernet ports on it, from which I go to the two pc's in the room.

We use Verizon for our iPhones.

So, what confuses me is the the Verizon/Comcast interchange.

When I use my iPhone, does it talk wirelessly to the Cisco Router ?
If so, the downstream connections from it are apparently Comcast.

So, when and where is it switched to Verizon ?

(or does my iPhone just talk to some Tower in the neighborhood, and bypasses Comcast totally ?)

Any clarifications for a simple minded guy like me, but with a strong
technical background, hampered now a bit by age, would be most appreciated.

Thanks, and regards,
Bob
 
TWO kinds of wireless ----
The iPhone (same as any other cell phone) uses the cell system (those antennas on towers that you see everywhere) for phone calls.
If you browse the internet, look at social media, or use any other apps on your phone that require access to the internet, then your phone can use the cell system for that, too.
The cell towers can be several miles from your phone, and still work.
And therefore, your Comcast internet is completely wasted (up to this part anyway!)
If you use the wifi on your iPhone, then you would not use the cell system for that, but would use whatever wifi connection that you have access to - and that's where your Comcast connection comes in. That gives you internet to whatever devices are capable of using a wifi connection (with the additional speed and stability of the wired ethernet connection, giving you a common internet connection for all your other devices, like security cameras, voice response boxes, house lighting and audio/TV control, lots of etc. depending on what your needs are.
(Verizon and Comcast are completely separate. You can't make normal phone calls without access to the Verizon network (you have a Verizon iPhone), but you can browse the internet through the Verizon network, but ordinarily your internet would be through your Comcast.
If you have data "limits" on your Verizon connection, then you would need to remember those limits if you use the Verizon cell system for your internet, and keep your time limited on that, if possible (and if you have a choice)
And, wifi is restricted by the location of your wifi router (probably the Motorola box), and you can't use that wifi from a block or two away, 100 feet is usually too far away for a connection. (but no data limits as with a cell connection
I'm sure the password that you need will be for connection to the Wifi box - probably the Motorola box.
(Your son would not need access to Verizon through you, but would use whatever wireless company they use with their phone)

Anyway, bottom line, if you don't remember your password, I would suggest that you call your internet provider, who should be able to help you, either with resetting the password on a Comcast-owned box, or they will be able to decide which box you have for your wifi...
 
The Wifi password IS store on your iPhone, otherwise it could not connect to your local network via wifi.

Update: As far as I know there is no possibility to show passwords saved in keychain on iOS.

You could use the iOS feature to share the password.

How to share your Wi-Fi password from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Friends and family can share passwords between their iOS devices.
support.apple.com support.apple.com

If you also own a mac/macbook and iCloud keychain is active you can show the password on your mac in the keychain tool.
 
Last edited:
Hi,

Thanks all for the trouble of helping me out in understanding
this. Really appreciated.

Great information, and Very clear explanations.

Thanks again,
Bob
 
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Hello again,

Have read the really clear explanations above, but would like to ask
the following please. Realize it's a duplicate of what I asked, and was answered, but will blame it on my age again, and a desire to really understand this "stuff":

My main question is (b):

a. The term "WiFi" applies to when my iPhone is using a Cel Tower, AND also when it is connecting to the Cisco Router (that I bought) and is using the
Comcast network ? It's whenever a device is connecting in a "wireless" mode. True, or is there a more restrictive definition ?

b. And I'm still very confused about this. (old age problem):

If my iPhone connects to the Cisco wireless Router I have, and this Router connects to the Comcast supplied Modem, which then presumably goes into
the Comcast "network" via the hard wire from my house to the Pole outside:

*So, if i call from my iPhone to another iPhone, via
this Modem/Comcast Router/Comcast chain, when and how does
it go to Verizon, OR is it ALL handled by Comcast ?

*(Verizon would only come into play if it uses a Cel Tower)
True ?

c. Is the phone smart enough to know to use my home Comcast network rather than a nearby Tower (cheaper ?) ? How can I make sure its configured this way ?

Again, thanks for walking me thru this, nice of you folks,
Bob
 
a.
WiFi is not the same as a cellular/mobile connection. Different protocol, different frequency bands.

With WiFi/WLAN(wireless local are network) you connect to an access point at our home or hotspot at a public place. Paired with a configured router you can access the internet.

Cellular connection uses Cel Towers.
The Cellular connection is used to make and received calls (expetion when using something like iOS Wi-FI calling) SMS and access the internet if it's included in your mobile contract

b.
For phone calls on your iPhone you always use the cel tower / Verizon network.
Exception would be using WiFi Calling(contract dependend and has to be turned on in iOS).
But even then the last hops would be in the Verizon network

c.
iOS will always automatically connect to known WiFis (connected once before and password stored in keychain)
If you are connected with Wifi, you see the Wifi symbol in the iOS status bar on the top of the screen
 
Hi,

Thanks again.

Really nice of you to put up with all of dumb questions.
Clear explanations; I really feel I have a good handle on all of this, now.
Very appreciated all the time you've taken.

Thanks again,
Bob
 
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